Animal Control By-law 21-2018, Office Consolidation
South Huron, Ontario
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The Corporation of the Municipality of South Huron
By-Law 21-2018
A By-Law to put in place Regulations Associated with the Control, Licensing and
Registration of Animals within South Huron
Office Consolidation of By-Laws 21-2018, 14-2019 and rescinding By-Law 85-2018
This by-law is printed under and by authority
of the Council of the Municipality of South Huron
Disclaimer:
The following consolidation is an electronic reproduction made available for information only. It
is not an official version of the by-law. The format may be different, and plans, pictures, other
graphics or text may be missing or altered. The Municipality of South Huron does not warrant
the accuracy of this electronic version. This consolidation cannot be distributed or used for
commercial purposes. It may be used for other purposes only if you repeat this disclaimer and
the notice of copyright. Official versions of all by-laws can be obtained from the Clerk's
Department by calling 519-235-0310.
Consolidated By-Law
1
The Corporation of the Municipality of South Huron
By-Law # 21-2018
Animal Control
Being a by-law to put in place regulations associated with the control, licensing and
registration of animals within the Municipality of South Huron.
Whereas the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, C.25 Sections 11, 103, 105 and
391(1), as may be amended from time to time, provides that a municipality may pass
by-laws prohibiting, regulating and restricting the keeping of animals or any class thereof,
the destruction thereof and allow for a licensing and animal identification system; and
Whereas the Animals for Research Act, R.S.O. 1990, C. A22, Section 20 provides
for the impounding and sale or destruction of a dog or cat; and
Whereas the Dog Owners Liability Act, R.S.O. 1990, C.D16, as amended, provides
for the protection of persons and property; and
Whereas the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, R.S.O.,
1990, Chap. O.36, provides special powers to help animals in distress; and
Whereas the Ontario Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, C. P15, as amended, provides
that Council may appoint Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officers to enforce all
municipal by-laws; and
Whereas the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of South Huron deems it
necessary and expedient to pass such a by-law;
Now Therefore the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of South Huron
enacts as follows:
1. Definitions
"By-law Enforcement Officer/ Animal Control Officer" shall mean a person
appointed as such by a by-law of the Municipality of South Huron to enforce this
by-law;
"Cat" means any registered purebred or common domestic cat, male or female,
over the age of twelve (12) weeks unless otherwise specified by this by-law and
shall include a domestic breed of cat that is or appears to be feral;
"Distress" means the state of being in need of proper care, water, food or
shelter or being injured, sick or in pain or suffering;
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"Domestic" means an animal that is not wild, untamed, uncultivated, feral or
brutal in nature of disposition;
"Feed" or "feeding" means the deliberate act of furnishing, or making food or
other substances available which is likely to be consumed by wild animals,
strays, feral or abandoned animals;
"Food" means any substance or food which could reasonably be expected to be
consumed by a wild animal, but does not include:
a) compost kept in accordance with all applicable by-laws, statutes or
regulations;
b) landscaping materials used for landscaping purposes; or
c) food being grown for human consumption
"Dog" shall mean a male or female Canis familiaris;
"Feral Cat" shall mean any homeless, wild or untrained stray cat.
"Guide dog" shall mean a dog trained and certified for a guide for the blind,
hearing impaired or other disability and used as such;
"Kennel" shall mean:
a) A place where more than two dogs are kept for the purpose of show,
training, breeding, selling; or
b) A place where more than two dogs are kept and cared for on behalf of
the owners of the dogs, boarding, grooming or temporary housing;
"Licence Inspector or dog counter" shall mean any person appointed by
Council as a municipal by-law enforcement officer;
"Mitigating factor" shall mean a circumstance which excuses aggressive behaviour
of a dog and may include circumstances where:
a) The dog was, at the time of the aggressive behaviour, acting in defence
to an attack by a person or domestic animal;
b) The dog was, at the time of the aggressive behaviour, acting in defence
of its young or reacting to a person or domestic animal trespassing on
the property of its owner; or
c) The dog was, at the time of the aggressive behaviour, being teased,
provoked or tormented.
"Municipality" shall mean the Municipality of South Huron;
"Muzzle" shall mean a humane fastening or covering device of adequate
strength over the mouth to prevent a dog from biting, yet still allows a dog to
pant or drink;
Consolidated By-Law
3
"Owner" of an animal includes a person who possesses or harbours a dog or
cat, and, where the owner is a minor, the person responsible for the custody of
the minor;
"Police Work Dog" shall mean a dog trained to aid law enforcement officers and
used by such officers in the execution of their duties;
"Pound" shall mean such premises as approved from time to time by
Council;
"Poundkeeper" shall mean the person appointed as such by Council;
"Pure bred" shall mean registered or eligible for registration in the register of the
Canadian or American Kennel Clubs, or of a class designated as pure-bred in
any regulations passed pursuant to provincial legislation;
"Running at large" shall mean to be found in any place other than the premises
of the owner of the animal and not under the control of any person;
"Tag" shall mean a metal tag issued by the Municipality and indicating the
number under which the dog is registered;
"wildlife" shall mean an animal, other than birds, which has not been made
tame nor has been taught to live with and under the control of humans.
Definitions amended by By-Law 14-2019
2. Licensing of Dogs
2.1. Every calendar year the owner of a dog shall ensure that any dog owned by
him or her is licensed by the Municipality with exception to an owner being
the operator of a licensed kennel.
2.2.The license shall be obtained before the 31st day of May each calendar
year, unless the dog came into the owner's possession or care after that date.
2.3.Every owner of a dog that comes into his or her possession after May 31
shall obtain a license for the dog within ten days of taking possession of the dog.
2.4.The owners of a guide dog or a police work dog shall ensure that these dogs
are licensed, but no fee is imposable for such dogs.
2.5.In order to license a dog and obtain a tag the owner of the dog may be
asked to produce proof that the dog is currently inoculated against rabies.
2.6.On payment of the initial license fee, as set out in the Fees and Charges By-
Law; as set by Council from time to time, the owner shall be furnished with a
permanent dog tag and shall keep the tag securely fixed on the dog at all times
with the exception that the tag may be removed while the dog is being
Consolidated By-Law
4
lawfully used for hunting. Replacement tags may be purchased at the
municipal office.
2.7.The licensing fee shall be paid each calendar year, as per the current Fees &
Charges By-Law.
2.8.No owner shall permit a dog to wear a tag other than the one issued for
the dog, tags are not transferable.
2.9.The owner of any kennel shall pay the kennel license fee, as set out in the
current Fees & Charges By-Law, as amended from time to time by Council, by the
31st day of May of each year.
2.10.The owner of any kennel shall, upon payment of the kennel licensing fee,
receive two tags for use by the dogs housed in the kennel. These tags must be
attached to the dogs whenever they are removed from the kennel to allow
licensed kennel owners to transport dogs to shows, veterinary clinics etcetera.
3. Dog Kennels
3.1.Any person or persons who keep more than two dogs, which are aged over
three months, at one location may apply for a kennel license.
3.2.A kennel license may be issued to the owner of confined dogs kept exclusively
for hunting, working or dog-sled purposes.
3.3.The Council of the Municipality of South Huron reserves the right to refuse a
kennel license.
3.4.Every person who holds a kennel license shall comply with the following
requirements:
a)The license shall be exposed at all times in a conspicuous place in the
interior of the premises;
b)The premises shall be maintained in a sanitary, well ventilated, clean
condition and free from offensive odours;
c)The animals shall be kept in sanitary, well bedded, well ventilated, naturally
lighted, clean quarters and a healthful temperature shall be maintained at all
times;
d)The animals shall be adequately fed and watered and kept in a clean,
healthy condition, free from vermin and disease;
e)The kennel building shall be in a separate building and shall not be attached
to any building used or capable of being used for human habitation;
Consolidated By-Law
5
f)The kennel building and its location shall conform to the applicable zoning
by-law and the Ontario Building code and the building shall be maintained in
damage-free condition;
g)The kennel floor shall be thoroughly cleaned daily, or more often if
necessary;
h)Any cage shall be adequately sized to allow the animal to extend its legs to
their full extent, to stand, sit, turn around or lie down in a fully extended
position. There must also be sufficient space to enable species appropriate
contact, provide bitches with nursing puppies an additional 10% space per
nursing puppy, and provide for the social and behavioural needs of the dog;
i)Cages are to be constructed of metal, wire, or partly of wire and shall have
metal or other impermeable bottoms, which shall be cleaned and washed
daily, or more often if necessary;
j)Whelping facilities shall be separate from the individual and/or group kennel
enclosures housing other kennel dogs;
k)The whelping area shall consist of a whelping box which is 21/2 times the
size of the bitch, constructed with four sides and a floor, and shall be regularly
cleaned and sanitized.
3.5.The License Inspector, Animal Control Officer or By-Law Enforcement Officer
may inspect any place where the animals are kept, pursuant to this by-law.
3.6.If the kennel is found not to conform to the requirements set out herein, the
License Inspector, Animal Control Officer or By-Law Enforcement Officer may
direct that the animals be seized and impounded and may revoke the license
issued to the kennel.
3.7.Every owner or operator of a kennel shall allow access to the facility for
the purpose of inspection at all reasonable hours to any person appointed by the
Municipality of South Huron to enforce this by- law.
4. Number of Animals
4.1 The total number of cats and dogs shall not exceed four (4) within the Municipality
of South Huron, with a maximum number of two (2) dogs harboured at any one time
in a dwelling unit, with the following exceptions;
a) A licensed kennel;
b) An animal hospital;
c) A pound or an authorized facility;
d) A pet store;
e) A registered research facility or supply facility under the Animals for
Research Act
Consolidated By-Law
6
5. Cat Control
5.1 No owner of a cat shall allow such cat to cause damage or otherwise create
a disturbance to another person or person's property.
5.2 Where a person makes a complaint to the Animal Control Officer that a cat is
causing or has caused damage to the said person or person's property or is
creating or has created a disturbance, the Animal Control Officer may seize
or impound such cat.
5.3 In accordance with the Animals for Research Act, R.S.O. 1990, C.A. 22, the
minimum redemption period for a cat shall be (3) three days, excluding the
day on which the cat was impounded, and if not claimed may be sold,
destroyed or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the pound-keeper,
except where a cat is ill or injured and a veterinarian is of the opinion that the
cat should be destroyed forthwith, a person authorized to enforce this By-law
may direct the veterinarian to destroy the cat immediately. Where a cat is
seized or impounded it will not be released until all seizure, pound and
maintenance charges have been paid.
5.4 All fees for reclaiming, impounding, vet's service, and any other cost relevant
to said cat shall be paid for before the cat is reclaimed.
6. Running At Large
6.1 Every owner shall ensure that his or her dog or cat does not run at large
within the Municipality of South Huron.
6.2 A dog or cat running at large may be seized and impounded and may be sold
or destroyed by the poundkeeper following a three day redemption period
excluding Saturday, Sunday and Statutory Holidays.
6.3 A dog or cat that is seized and impounded, will not be released until pound,
maintenance, veterinary, or other fees have been paid.
6.4 For the purpose of this by-law a dog or cat shall be deemed to be running at
large when found in any place other than the premises of the owner, and not
under the control of any person.
6.5 Section 6.1 does not apply to police work dogs when these dogs are in the
course of performing their duties.
6.6 The poundkeeper may sell, destroy or cause or permit to be destroyed any dog
or cat that has been impounded where:
a) The person that owned the dog or cat before it came into the
possession of the poundkeeper has requested in writing that the dog be
destroyed;
Consolidated By-Law
7
b) An inspector under the Animals for Research Act or a veterinarian
has ordered that the dog or cat be destroyed under that Act;
c) During the redemption period of three days the dog or cat is in the
pound and is ill or injured, and in the poundkeeper's opinion is
incapable of being cured or healed as to live thereafter without
suffering.
7. Owners to Take Precautions
7.1The owner of a dog shall exercise reasonable precautions to prevent it
from biting or attacking a person or domestic animal; or behaving in a manner
that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals.
8. Removed by By-Law 14-2019
9. Removed by By-Law 14-2019
10. Create a Nuisance
10.1
Every owner of a dog or cat shall remove forthwith any excrement left by
the animal on any property.
10.2
Subsection 9.1 does not apply to persons reliant on a guide dog or
persons in control of a police work dog when such dog is in the execution
of its duties.
10.3
No owner or person harbouring a dog shall allow a dog to bark, whine
or yelp excessively.
11. Prohibition of Cruelty to Animals
11.1 No person may keep any domestic animal unless the animal is
provided with:
a) Clean potable drinking water in spill proof containers at all times
and suitable food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal
growth and the maintenance of normal body weight;
b) Food and water receptacles that are kept clean and disinfected and
located so as to avoid contamination by excreta;
c) The opportunity for periodic exercise sufficient to maintain good health;
d) Necessary veterinary medical care when the animal exhibits signs
of pain or suffering.
11.2 No person may keep any domestic animal which normally resides outside,
or which is kept outside for short to extended periods of time, unless the
animal is provided with outside shelter. The shelter must:
Consolidated By-Law
8
a) Be weatherproof with an exterior windbreak and exterior door flap;
b) Have a door facing away from the prevailing wind and must be
elevated off the ground;
c) Provide sufficient space to allow the animal the ability to turn about
freely and to easily stand, sit and lie in a normal position;
d) Be at least 1 ½ times the length of the animal and at least 1 ½ times
the animal's width, and at least as high as the animal's height
measured from the floor to the highest point of the animal when
standing in a normal position plus 10%;
e) Be insulated to ensure protection from heat, cold and wet and be
appropriate to the animal's weight and type of coat;
f) Provide sufficient shade to protect the animal from the direct rays of
the sun at all times;
g) Be regularly cleaned and sanitized and excreta removed at least once a
day.
11.3
No person may cause a dog to be hitched, tied or fastened by any rope,
chain or cord that is directly tied around the animal's neck on to a choke
collar.
11.4
No person shall cause a dog to be confined in an enclosed space without
adequate ventilation.
11.5 No person shall allow any domestic animal to suffer from any infectious
disease .
12. Feeding of Wildlife
12.1 No person shall intentionally feed a wild animal or leave food or
attractants of any type or in any form out of doors in such a manner as
to attract, or be accessible by wildlife, feral or stray domestic animal on
private or public property.
12.2 Section 12.1 does not apply in the following situations:
a) the leaving of food as bait in a trap by property owner to capture
a nuisance animal inhabiting or habituating their property pursuant
the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, S.O.1997, c. 41; or
b) the leaving of food as bait by a licensed trapper, and employee
of a licensed wildlife or pest control agency, Municipal Law
Enforcement Officer, an Ontario Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Inspector, or a Police Officer, in the
performance of their duties.
13. Severability
Consolidated By-Law
9
13.1 If a court of competent jurisdiction should declare any part or section of
this by-law to be invalid, it is hereby declared that the remainder of the
by-law shall be valid and shall remain in force.
14. Penalties
14.1 Every person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty
of an offence and is subject to the penalties under the Provincial
Offences Act.
14.2 The Dog Control Officer, By-Law Enforcement Officer and any Officer
appointed as a peace officer may enter, at all reasonable times, upon
any property subject to the regulations of this by-law in order to
ascertain whether such regulations or directions are being obeyed.
15. Enactment
15.1 By-Law No. #28-2014 is hereby repealed.
15.2 This by-law shall be known as the Animal Control By-Law and shall come
into force and effect upon the third and final reading thereof.
NOTE: The general penalty provision for the offences listed above is section 14 of bylaw
21-2018, a certified copy of which has been filed.
Consolidated By-Law
10
Item
Short Form Wording
(Description of Offence)
Provision Creating
Or Defining Offence
Set Fine
1
Owner fails to purchase dog license for
current year
2.1
$100.00
2
Owner fails to keep tag securely fastened
to dog
2.6
$100.00
3
Use tag on wrong dog
2.8
$100.00
4
Failure to obtain kennel license for current
year
2.9
$300.00
5
Failure to post kennel license
3.4(a)
$300.00
6
Failure to maintain kennel
3.4(b)
$300.00
7
Failure to maintain temperature in kennel
3.4(c)
$300.00
8
Failure to keep animals in kennel fed and
watered
3.4(d)
$300.00
9
Failure to keep animals in kennel free from
vermin or disease
3.4(d)
$300.00
10
Failure to keep animals in clean, healthy
condition
3.4(d)
$300.00
11
Kennel not in separate building
3.4(e)
$300.00
12
Failure to clean kennel floor
3.4(g)
$300.00
13
Kennel cage not adequate size for animal
3.4(h)
$300.00
14
Failure to keep kennel cage(s) clean
3.4(i)
$300.00
15
Failure to provide separate whelping
facilities in kennel
3.4(j)
$300.00
16
Failure to provide whelping facility of
adequate size
3.4(k)
$300.00
17
Failure to allow an inspection of kennel
establishment
3.7
$300.00
18
Keep or permit to be kept more than four
animals, maximum two dogs
4.1
$300.00
19
Allow/permit dog or cat to run at large
6.1
$100.00
20
Fail to exercise precautions to prevent
biting or attacking a person or domestic
animal
7.1
$300.00
21
Failure to remove excrement
10.1
$150.00
22
Allow dog to bark, whine or yelp
excessively
10.3
$100.00
23
Failure to provide adequate food, water,
exercise and health care
11.1
$300.00
24
Failure to provide adequate shelter
11.2
$300.00
25
Allow, permit dog to be fastened by rope,
chain or cord directly tied to a choke collar
11.3
$300.00
26
Confine dog in enclosed space without
adequate ventilation
11.4
$300.00
27
Intentionally Feeding Wildlife
12.1
$100.00